Photo: Collected
Describing Rajshahi Railway Station as a symbol of the dignity and heritage of the people of Rajshahi, Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu has said those who unwarrantedly destroyed this installation have struck at the honour and dignity of all the people of Rajshahi. In an exchange of views with journalists after visiting the station, he also strongly condemned the torture of Rajshahi University students and the rampage of the fascist government’s hired goons during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
He said vandalism and destructive activities have been carried out at the traditional Rajshahi railway station in exactly the same manner in which students and the public were attacked in Rajshahi and Dhaka on 5 August, when countless people, including martyr Sakib Anjum, were killed and tortured.
The minister said a probe committee has already been formed over the incident of vandalism and sabotage at the railway station. On the basis of the committee’s recommendations, those involved will be identified and made to face stern legal punishment.
Terming those who are spreading misleading or fake statements about the incident ‘enemies of Rajshahi and the state’, he said they will be traced through technology and investigation and brought to book quickly.
Requesting the people of Rajshahi to maintain patience and tolerance in the situation that has arisen, the minister said if any outside enemy or conspirator attempts a plot, the people of Rajshahi will put up resistance and give a fitting reply as in the past.
Earlier, at 7:30pm on Thursday (1 October), the minister, along with leaders and activists, visited the various vandalised spots at the railway station. Present at the time were Shafiqul Haque Milon, MP for the Rajshahi-3 (Paba-Mohanpur) constituency; Mahfuzur Rahman Riton, administrator of Rajshahi City Corporation and general secretary of the city unit of BNP; Ershad Ali Isha, chairman of the Zila Parishad and a valiant freedom fighter; and RDA Chairman Abul Kalam Azad Sweet.
